Steam distributor



Oct. 24, 1933. J. R. MARCOUX STEAM DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 27, 1931 [was r01? f, Malec 0oz Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES STEAM DISTRIBUTOR Joseph Romeo Marcoux, Charny, Quebec,

Canada Application July 27, 1931. Serial No. 553,465

1 Claim. (Cl. 110-101) This invention relates to improvements in steam distributors for a locomotive stoker as part of mechanical stokers for feeding fuel from the tender to the fire box.

5 In practice, coal is usually delivered from the tender to a screw conveyor to a discharge box over a projecting steam distributor onto a distributing plate whence it is delivered by force of steam to the furnace. The projecting part of the steam distributor is subjected to an abrasive or wearing action due to the passing of coal across the top so that the steam distributor wears perceptibly; it is also subjected to the action of condensed steam collected in the discharge oril5 fices enlarging the same and so interfering with the efiiciency'.

As a result of these combined actions, the steam distributor has to be frequently renewed and, since it is located between the discharge box and distributing plate, it is a very difficult matter to extract the Whole ofv the steam distributor to replace it by a new one.

Furthermore, this steam distributor is at the present time made of one piece, usually of cast iron and, while it only suffers in having the top portion worn away, the body portion remains practically intact; however, atpresent the whole of the steam distributor has to be removed when the top is worn and replaced by a new one. It will be clearly understood that there is a resulting waste and considerable expense incurred in replacing a whole steam distributor in which only the top portion has been worn away.

It is the object of this invention to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a steam distributor for use in mechanical stokers employed in locomotives to overcome the objections referred to.

A further object of the invention is to providc, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a steam distributor for mechanical stokers employed in locomotives formed of a pair of superimposed interengaging sections, so constructed and arranged as to provide a steam tight joint therebetween, at the same permitting the convenient removal of the upper section with respect to the lower section thereby obviatingthe necessity of replacing or substituting an entire new distributor when the upper section only has become impaired.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a steam distributor for mechanical stokers employed in locomotives including a removable, steam distributing upper section of a contour to permit each other.

with steam supply pipes 17.

of the coal passing readily thereover and to reduce to a minimum an abrasive or wearing action thereon from the coal whereby the life of such section is materiallyincreased.

So that the nature of my invention will be (m clearly understood, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the same.

In the drawing,

Fig; 1 is a fragmentary section of a part of the fuel feeding system of a locomotive, showing the lower wall of the discharge box, a portion'of the distributing plate, and the steam distributor:

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 of Fig. 1. 7

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional View of the removable top of the steam distributor.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the removable top of the steam distributorj Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the steam distributor, showing the removable top.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. l'represents an assembly of a portion of the discharge box, a steam distributor and distributing plate. The top of the discharge box 10, which is not shown, is made removable and, by this means, the steam distributor is accessib1e from the exterior of the discharge box'by removing such removable top. The lower wall 10 of the discharge box only is shown, but, as the construction of the discharge box is well-known, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate or further describe the same.

The distributor includes an upstanding rectangular lower steam receiving section or body portion 12 and an upper steam distributing section or nozzle 14. The sections are arranged in superimposed interengaging relation with respect to The section 12 is secured to the under floor of a distributing plate 11 by holdfast means, such as set screws 21. As shown in Fig. 6, this body portion 12 is provided with a number of partitions 13A which allow for a plurality of vertical compartments 13 provided with ports 19 at the upper end and connected at the lower end The section 14 is of oblong contour and has a vertically disposed front side face, a horizontal fiat lower face and a rear face of arcuate contour throughout. The bottom of the front side face merges into the front side of said lower face. The top of the rear face merges into the top of said front side face. The bottom of the rear face merges into the rear side of the lower face. The section 14 in cross section is of quadrantal contour. The curved rear face of section 14 permits of the fuel when fed riding over said section in an easy manner and prevents undue backing up or resistance to the feeding of the fuel.

The top of section 12 at each side thereof is rabbeted lengthwise, as at 16 for the purpose of reducing the width thereof. The bottom of section 14 is formed lengthwise thereof with a pair of spaced parallel depending lugs 18 which seat against the rabbets 16. The reduced portion on the top of section 14 is arranged between the lugs 18 and abuts the lower face of section 14.

The section 14 is formed with spaced vertically disposed horizontally flared intake ports 19 of less height than said section and having the tops or upper ends thereof closed. The ports 19 open at the lower face of section 14, and the latter is formed with spaced sets of spaced steam discharge orifices or outlets 20 disposed at right angles to the ports and opening at one end at the front face of section 14 and at the other end into the ports 19. A. set of orificesassociates with a port. Each port is horizontally flared from its lower end. That end of a set of orifices which opens into a port 19 is positioned in close proximity to the closed top of the latter. The orifices of each set are of less diameter than that of a port 19.

The top of section 12 is formed with spaced outlet ports 19, each for a compartment 13. Each outlet port registers with the lower end of an intake port 19 when the sections 12 and 14 are detachably connected together. The orifices 20 are disposed at different angles.-

To secure the section 14 in position, I provide a plurality of orifices 23 which register with the threaded orifices 23 in the body partion 12, and set screws extend through the orifices 23 and are threaded through the orifices 23 The heads of the set screws are secured in the countersunk upper ends 22 of the orifices 23.

When this steam distributor is in use, fuel is passed through the distributing box over the top or section 14 onto the distributing plate, from whence it is delivered evenly to the fire-box by force of the steam from the orifices 20. The steam passes through the ports 13 and 19 and issues through the orifices 20. It will be understood that coal will fill up the upper ends of the counter-sinks 22 and becomes packed in around the head of the set screws 24, but when the nozzle of the steam distributor becomes worn and requires renewal, it is a very easy matter to clean" out this coal and with a box spanner remove the set screws 24, so permitting the section 14 of the steam distributor to be removed and replaced by another of similar construction.

In the embodiment illustrated, I have shown several forms of ports in the body' portion 12 and I have shown the nozzle or top 14 as provided with the preferred disposition or arrangement of orifices opening at the front face thereof, but it will be understood that such disposition or arrangement may be modified as found necessary, and that the invention relates in providing a steam distributor so constructed and arranged as to permit, when desired the substitution of a new section 14 for an impaired one without any difficulty and without putting the locomotive out of commission for a prolonged period of time. As time is an essential feature in locomotive work, it will be cear that a steam distributor or top of the construction and arrangement as referred to is a great advancement in this art.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a seam distributor for use in mechanical st'okers employed in locomotives, a one-piece steam receiving section having steam outlets, a steam distributing section detachably connected in superimposed relation to the receiving section and formed with a vertical front side face, a horizontal lower face and a rear face of arcuate contour throughout merging into said other faces, said upper section being formed with vertically disposed intake ports of less height than that of such section, each of said port's closed at its upper end and opening at its lower end at said lower face and adapted to register with a steam outlet, said distributor section being formed with steam outlet orifices disposed at right angles to said intake ports, each opening at one end into the latter and: opening at the other end at said front side face above thebottom of the latter, and each of said intake .ports being flared .horizontally from its open lower end. a

. i J. R. MARCOUX. 

